Liquor authority fines True North $12K after minors with fake ID served at Jets White Out party

True North Sports and Entertainment was hit with a $12,000 fine for serving minors with fake IDs during a Winnipeg Jets White Out street party in 2025.

The company was fined by the Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority of Manitoba on May 13, 2025 after liquor inspectors attended the May 9 street party and witnessed two two minors in possession of and consuming liquor. One was visibly intoxicated, according to a compliance order dated May 15, 2025.

Both minors had security-issued “18+” wristbands and were using identification that was expired and “clearly not their image.”

The compliance order, provided to the Free Press by the LGCA, said inspectors also noticed inadequate identification checking by security before issuing the wristbands, which identify the people wearing them as being of legal drinking age.

“Multiple security did not appear to thoroughly handle identification to determine its authenticity or to compare the details on the identification with the individual presenting the identification,” the order said.

Bar staff were also not asking patrons who appeared to be under age for valid ID, even if they were wearing a wristband.

The order said LGCA inspectors observed minors in possession of or consuming liquor on five occasions, suggesting a “concerning trend of underaged drinking occurring.”

“The licensee has a pattern of non-compliance with one of the most serious life-safety breaches under the Act. This pattern of non-compliance has continued despite a progressive approach to compliance that has focused on education and not yet involved fines or suspension,” the order said.

The fine was handed to TN Arena Limited Partnership, which is a limited partnership formed to own and operate Canada Life Centre. The business is part of the True North Sports and Entertainment group, which also owns the Manitoba Moose hockey club and operates the Burton Cummings Theatre.

The company contravened sections 27(2) and 30(3) of The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act. The sections state a licensee should not allow disorderly persons to be in a licensed premises, knowingly serve or sell liquor to someone who appears to be intoxicated, permit the excessive consumption of liquor and to not allow a minor to possess or consume liquor on the premises.

True North also broke section 15 of the Liquor Licensing Regulation, which says that valid identification must be presented to purchase alcohol, including if they appear to be a minor. It also mandates that someone without valid ID must be required to leave the premises.

TNSE director of corporate communications Krista Sinaisky did not answer questions about the circumstances that led to the infraction. In an emailed statement, Sinaisky said following the 2025 street parties TNSE worked with the LGCA to review and adjust procedures.

Sinaisky did not say what adjustments to which procedures were made.

Winnipeg Jets fans were riding a high after the first round of the NHL playoffs when the Jets bested the St. Louis Blues in what has been dubbed the “Manitoba Miracle” — forward Cole Perfetti tied the score with just 1.6 seconds left in the third period of Game 7. The Jets went on to win the game 4-3 in double overtime.

Winnipeg hosted the first two games of Round 2 against the Dallas Stars. The Jets beat the Dallas Stars 4-0 to tie the series in Game 2 on May 9, but Dallas would end up taking the series 4-2.

In addition to paying the fine, the company was ordered to implement several terms for future White Out street parties, including wrist-banding every patron that is of legal drinking age, conducting comprehensive ID checks, having sufficient staff to maintain control of the premises, installing “liquor compliance” security, having a limit of one drink per person after the game starts and closing bars 10 minutes into the third period.

Staff were also required to be trained before the street parties, and an incident report had be filled out in every instance that a minor was seen in possession of liquor.

LGCA spokesperson Samantha Stevenson confirmed all requirements in the order were met and TNSE has had no further compliance orders to date.

Meantime, the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg was found to have inadequate record-keeping and accounting for all lottery revenue, accumulator and prize calculations, inventory controls and eligible use of profits.

On Dec. 11, 2023 the LGCA required the club to conduct a third-party audit of its operations, stemming from findings of accounting practices that were found to be inconsistent with LGCA standards.

An order dated March 17, 2025 stated the organization must undertake better reporting mechanisms, but subsequent reviews by the authority found more deficiencies.

A Nov. 14, 2025 order further compelled the club to stop reusing media bingo paper beginning Jan 1, 2026. All media bingo paper must be used only for the initial event date on the card and cannot be used for future bingo events.

A Dec. 19, 2025 order further directed the charity to submit a written proposal to the LGCA that detailed inventory-control procedures and integrity safeguards for the reuse of media bingo paper that demonstrates compliance with LGCA requirements.

Stevenson said Monday that the licensee continues to be required to submit quarterly reports.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca